Best Electric Rat Zapper for Killing Rodents in Your Attic or Garage

Electric rat zappers are a handy way to safely kill rodents and there are several different models on the market. In principle all of these traps work using the same mechanism so the difference between them lies in the details. Here is a breakdown of the differences between the products along with what I think is the best electric rat zapper.

Quick Answer: The Eliminator is the device that I recommend to my family and friends.

Longer Answer:

Let’s do a quick recap of how these devices work. An electric rat trap consists of two separated metal plates connected to a power supply. When a rodent steps onto the metal plates it completes an electrical circuit and the sudden power surge kills the rodent. Instant electrocution via 7000 volts.

So what makes one zapper better than another?

Power Supply: I prefer traps can be powered by either batteries or a plug in ac adapter. Some traps can only be powered by batteries and that can create some problems.

When the trap is battery powered the shocking power gradually gets weaker after every use. At some point (after 10-15 kills) there will still be some charge in the batteries but the trap won’t kill the rats. The number of “zaps” you will get is going to depend on the quality of your batteries. It is not easy to tell when the batteries need to be replaced.

When the trap is powered by a plugged in adapter you know the device is always fully charged and ready to work.

There are times when the battery powered option is needed. For example, when you are trying to kill rats in your attic, garden shed or other area where no power outlet is available.

You want to buy a trap that can either be powered by batteries or plugged into an outlet.

Price: There are about fifteen different models available that cost between $40 and $50 dollars. There are a few models priced at over $70. The higher priced models offer NO benefits over the lower priced ones.

There is no reason to pay more than $50 for an electric rat trap.

Ease of Use: Using an electric trap is very easy. Bait the trap, turn on the power and place the trap where you want it to go. Some traps come with indicator that let you know if a rat has been caught. On some traps the indicator is a flashing light on top of the trap while others have a remote indicator. It is nice to see if the trap has killed anything without having to get on your hands and knees for inspection.

The Eliminator ticks off all of the important boxes and gets pretty solid reviews from Amazon customers. The Eliminator has everything you needs without any useless bells and whistles to drive up the price tag.

Some Amazon customers are using this trap to kill squirrels (not sure how I feel about that) so it absolutely has enough stopping power to take care of rats.

The Rodent Terminator has two unique features that make up for the lack of a plug in options. The trap comes apart into two separate pieces for cleaning which completely prevents ANY chance of accidentally shocking yourself when you wipe it down. This trap is also one of the few that can be left in the rain without permanent damage.

This is a solid product with decent reviews. The price tag is hard to justify.

Tips for Using an Electric Rat Zapper

Tip #1:Have realistic expectations.

Electric traps have many benefits but they are not as effective as setting out a dozen snap traps. You will probably only kill one rat per day with an electric trap.

Tip #2:Give the trap some help.

Sometimes a rat will enter an electric trap and not get zapped. Sometimes this happens because the rat is only standing on ONE of the metal plates and isn’t completing the electrical circuit. Sometimes this happens because the environment is so dry that electricity has a hard time flowing through the rat. You can help the trap work by placing a damp paper towel in front of the trap. The towel will make sure the rat has damp feet when contact is made with the metal plates and electrocution becomes MUCH easier.

Tip #3: Keep it clean.

The process of zapping a rat often results in the rat releasing the contents of its bladder. If there is a build up of rat urine in the trap it will eventually foul the contact wires in the unit. Take the time to clean the inside of the trap with a damp cloth whenever it looks dirty inside. Make sure the power is disconnected and the batteries are removed before cleaning the trap.